Review

Review Summary: Where typical meets contrast, not only to create interest; but also to display some well thought out ideas- before being repeated a couple of times.

Emerging from Byron Bay, New South Wales (Aust.), it wasn’t exactly hard for In Hearts Wake to follow bands such as Parkway Drive, Miss May I or even For Today in their rather typically structured soundscape. But with the inclusion of numerous guest appearances and a habit to add some electronic techniques to Divination makes for a rather interesting listen that only loses a small amount of appeal from repeated listens. That’s not to say that Divination is not worth the time at all, in fact it’s quite the opposite. Simply put, this album is indeed full of more ups than downs.

Despite being formed in 2006, In Hearts Wake has never felt so solid. The inclusion of heart-felt clean vocals reminiscent of many punk groups adds to the bands overall vocal colour that ranges from deep growls typical of the deathcore genre, to mid-range screams that fill the majority of the record. Unfortunately, there is a reliance shown on the ever so frowned on breakdown. Divination not only uses the a-typical chug-chug fest in its bridge sections but also in the bands’ verse patterns. This is both good and bad for listeners; namely because the patterns appear in almost every track and becomes both tiring and a little boring but at the same time allows for a high level of consistency to be achieved. Convert this issue to a live setting, for fans there is nothing quite like having a good head banging session where not only they can hear the predictable patterns coming, but they can also keep up with the moderate tempo.

What’s unusual for an Australian metalcore outfit is to show an awareness of harmony and layering. For some of the band members they show they know when to be silent, when to add an extra component or just ebb in the background. In Hearts Wake might sound like your typical metalcore outfit done a million times over but they show an originality that is accessible from a first listen. There is something here for every metalcore listener; there is heavy, clean, breakdown and a solid tempo from which listeners can take and enjoy.

Another interesting feature of this Australian metal outfit is the lyrical content they use. Tracks like “Traveller (The Fool)” talk about journey down to a physical level and while it’s easy enough to mention a hook in a track, there is something to be said about not making a track completely cheesy to listen to. All of this cements the fact that despite what the majority of the genre is drowning listeners with; there is in fact at least one band that isn’t trying to do anything out of the ordinary to entertain fans.

Divination may not be original, nor is it the second coming of god, but despite a tendency for breakdowns and repetitive structural patterns In Hearts Wake sign on for Australia’s metalcore outfit to break in 2012. In Heats Wake is steadily building momentum, steam rolling their way into the headlines, but if they do not give the next couple of releases their all they may find themselves falling into mediocrity.